LAS CRUCES (AP) — The U.S. Department of Education says New Mexico has one of the worst four-year high school graduation rates in the nation.

The Las Cruces Sun-News reports (http://bit.ly/SpzOdY) that new federal numbers from2010-2011 preliminary data showed that New Mexico also falls at the bottom of the pack when analyzing rates across nearly every demographic.

Nevada had the lowest graduation rate, with 62 percent graduation, just ahead of New Mexico’s 63 percent rate.

Iowa had the nation’s highest with about 88 percent of students graduating.

The 2010-2011 academic year was the first time all states used uniform standards to measure the number of students who graduated.

Education Secretary-Designate Hanna Skandera said New Mexico was “fundamentally failing” its mission on educating all of its students.